One-man vehicle-top.



W. H. BATES.

ONE MAN VEHICLE TOP. APPLICATION FILED MAY25.1916.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. H. BATES.

ONE MAN VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATiON FILED MAY 25, 1916.

1,24;3 687 Patented Oct. 23,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WILLIAM H. BATES, or oLIN'roN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR, or ONE-THIRD 'ro wALLAcE TOWNSEND AND ONE-THIRD TO w. n. THOMAS, orn on LITTLEnoo ARKANSAS.

ONE-MAN VEHICLE-Tor.

master.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 23, 191? Application filed May 25, 1916. Serial No. 99,780.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I/VILLIAM H. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in One-Man Vehicle- Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tops for automobiles or other vehicles and it has for its objects among others to provide a most simple and yet stable top of that type known as a one man top, that is a top of the type which can be readily raised or lowered by one person without assistance. The present top is of such a nature that it can be readily handled to be raised or lowered by a lady without assistance and without moving from the car.

It has for a further object to provide a top of this character in which the entire framework will fold back of its own accord with the release of the first bolt, although when raised it will be as firm as a top can be made as the construction is such that the parts will strengthen and draw tighter rather than weaken with an increase of weight on the top. I do away with sockets on the back seat and dispense with a number of joints heretofore employed and the entire joining and bracing system is exceedingly solid and yet confined to a small space and still the top is capable of manufacture at a much smaller cost than the prior forms. In raising, the one bow will assist the other, and there are no projecting parts to tear the lining. A

The structure is self-supporting and the top need not be fastened to the front of the car.

I form one of the bow members with an elongated loop through which another member is movable to allow of necessary movement and yet insure compactness of the parts, and I also provide a truss-like construction which embodies a member with an elongated loop through which another member freely slides, thus allowing the members to fold into the smallest compass possible and these parts are so arranged that the one member assists the other in its movement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafmr appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 shows in side elevation one form of my improved top as applied to an automobile. K 1

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the rear portion pf the car showing the top in folded posiion. 7

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation showing the joint and means for locking'the parts in distended position. 1 1

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail on anenlarged scale of one of the members having an elongated loop.

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail showing the connection between the horizontal side bow and the vertical post.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective detail of iLIlOiJhGI' of the members having an elongated oop.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the improvement applied to a touring car. I

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the improvement applied to a runabout.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail showing the adjustable connection between two members.

Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is a detail in. elevation, of a modified form.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of another form.

Fig. 14 is a. top plan of another form.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views. 7 Referring to the drawings and more especially to Fig. 1, the numerall designates the rear bow pivotally mounted at the lower end, as at 2, on the body 3 of the automobile. It is to be understood that the parts are duplicated on opposite sides of the. car and a description of the parts upon one side will suflice' for both.

4c is a short arm attached to the rear bow 1 at apoint above its center and to the forward end of this is pivotally mounted, as at 5, the horizontal member 6, that is the rear portion thereof. This rear portion 6 has at its forward end an upwardly curved terminal 7' to which is pivotally connected, as at 8, the upward and rearward curved terminal 9' of the front horizontal member 10, shown best in Figs. 1 and 3. The member 6 has an upwardly extended lug or the like 11 to which is pivotally attached, as at 12, the rear end of the member 13, to the forward end of which the covering 14 is attached at 15 in any suitable manner. The member '10 likewise has an upwardly extending lug 16 to which is pivotally connected, as at 17, the forward end of the member 18 to the rear end of which the covering 1 is attached in any suitable manner, as at 19. The member 18 is provided with the elongated loop 20, intermediate its ends, within which the member 13 is mounted with freedom to slide.

The two parts 6 and 10 being pivotally united, as at 8, permits the said members to be folded upon the pivot 8 when desired. In order to hold these parts in their distended position, such as seen in Fig. 1, and to pre vent possibility of the joint breaking when not desired, I pivotally attach to the one member, say the member 6, by a suitable pivot 21 a flanged member 22 which extends across the joint and is provided with a perforation 23, as seen in Fig. 3, for the re ception of a cotter pin or the like 24 which passes through the lug on the member 10, as seen in F i, and when this pin is in place and the parts are in the position in which they are seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the members 6 and 10 cannot be folded upon. their pivot.

Pivotally connected, as at 26, with the member 1 is a member 2'? to the upper end of which is attached the cover let in any suitable manner, as shown at 28. This member 27 is formed with an elongated loop 29, seen best in Fig. 7, and through which the member 6 is mounted to slide freely.

30 is a bow to the upper end-of which the covering 14: is attached in any suitable manner, as at 31, and the lower end of which is pivotally connected, as at 32, with the body 3 of the vehicle. In some instances, h )wever, this member 30 is not employed.

Fig. 2 shows the top in its folded position, illustrating the compactness of the parts when in their folded position. Ihe top can be readily manipulated by one person, by taking hold of the front and pushing backward. The parts automatically fold into their closed position, and when in their distended position there will be no dropping down, for the bow next to the last will hold it up, and when the top is in position the cotter pin 24- is inserted in the opening in the member 22 and the parts are secure. The loops and 29 in the members 18 and 27 respectively give double strength and they take all the weight off from the glass front so that all liability of danger by yeasts? breaking of the latter is avoided. They take the weight off of the front and by the trussed construction described the greater the weight on the top the more the latter will be tightened and drawn down and all the parts firmly held in proper position. As the weight is thrown toward the rear end the joints are straightened and the toggles formed by the members 27 aid in holding the parts more firmly in their distended position. There are no projecting parts upon the inside to tear the lining, everything be: ing smooth on the inside as well as on the outside. It dispenses with the bow sockets that are objectionable to those occupying the back set. When down the slack is auto matically taken up and as the parts assume the position in which they are seen in Fig. 1 the looped members drop down and y reason of the peculiar disposition thereof they serve to assist in holding the front up.

The generic principle is applicable to different forms of tops. For instance, in Fig. 8 I have shown it as appli d to a touring car and in this formthe structur is the same'as that hereinbefore'described except that the member 30 is omitted.

In Fig. 9 the invention is shown as applied to a runabout. In this form the structure is the same as that hereinbefore particularly described except that t.l members 13 and 18 are omitted, not being necessary because of the much shortened length of lhe top.

In the application of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the rear how. 1 is shown inclined instead of substantially perpendicular, as in F 1, the omission of the rearwardly inclined how 30 shown in Fig. 1.

In the forms shown in Figs. 8 and I), I may sometimes employ the adjustable clamp member 33, as seen in 10 and 11, which. is composed of two like members having portions to embrace the how 1 and these parts clamped about the how by means of :1. screw passed through the parallel extensions 36 and provided with a thumb nut or the like 37. By loosening the th unb nut, the clamp may be moved farther up or lown upon the bow 1, as circumstances may require. Tne member 6 is pivotally connected to the forward end of this clam-pmcn'rber 33, as shown at 88.

The bows and other members may assume any desired shape in cross section.

Fromthe foregoing it will be seen that l have devised. a simple and eliicient form of one girl top readily applied, easily ma nipulated, quickly locked, in position. and

durable in use, and while the structural embodiment of the invention as hereinbefore disclosed is what I at the present time consider preferable, it is evident that the same is subject to changes, variations and modithis by reason ,ral',

' without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the exact construction, proportion of parts, etc., as hereinbefore set forth, but reserve the right to make such changes, vari ations and modifications as come properly within the scope of the protection prayed.

For instance, as seen in Fig. 1, the member 6 is shown as provided with a dent or offset 6 which is engaged by a loop 27 pivotally connected, as at 28, to the mem-- ber 27.

In Fig. 12 I have shown the member 6, which is pivotally connected, as at 8, with the member 10, as provided with a loop 29 in which is loosely received the member 27 pivotally connected with the rearbow 1.

In Fig. 13 I how the member 29 as provided with a lateral offset 29* which re ceives the member 27 the latter being pivotally connected to the how 1 and provided with a lateral stop member 29 fixed thereon, in any suitable manner to engage said offset. 7 Fig. 1A shows substantially the same construction but with the offset 29 extended in the opposite direction and adapted to be engaged by the stop 29 on the member 27*. What is claimed as new is 1. A one-man top comprising a main how, an auxiliary bow pivotally connected there with at its lower end, a jointed horizontal member pivotally connected with the main bow, means overlapping the joint thereof and pivotally connected with the side members thereof, and having means for holding the parts in distended position, said trusslike members straddling said overlapping means and one having an elongated loop in which the other member thereof is freely movable.

2. A one-man top comprising a main bow, an auxiliary bow pivotally connected therewith at its lower end, jointed side members pivotally connected with the main bow and movable through aloop integral with the auxiliary bow, means overlapping the joints thereof, fastening means therefor to hold the parts in distended position, and trusslike members pivotally connected to the sections of the side members upon opposite sides of the joints therein and one having an elongated loop through which the other is freely movable.

3. A one-man top comprising a rear bow, jointed side members pivotally connected therewith, and forwardly extended bows pivotally mounted on the first-named bow Copies of this patent may be obtained for and having integral elongated loops through which the side members are free to move and crossed members pivotally connected with the side members and having limited sliding movement one within the other.

f. A one-man top comprising a bow, jointed side members pivotally connected therewith, forwardly extended bows pivotally mounted on the first-named bow and having integral elongated loops through which the-side members are free to move and crossed members pivotally connected with the side members and having limited sliding movement one within the other, said side members being jointed intermediate their ends.

5. A one-man top comprising a bow, jointed side members pivotally connected therewith, a forwardly extended bow pivotally mounted on the first-named bow and having integral elongated loops through which the side members are free to move and crossed members pivotally connected with the side members and having limited their ends, and means bridging the joints of the side members with means to prevent movement of the side members upon their joints. v

6. A one-man top comprising a bow, join-ted] side members pivotally connected therewith, a forwardly extended bow pivotally mounted on the first-named bow and having elongated loops through which the side members are free to move, said side members being jointed intermediate their ends, means bridging the joints of the side members with means to prevent movement of the side members upon their joints, and crossed members pivotally connected with the side members upon opposite sides of their joint.

'7. A one-man top comprising a bow, jointed side members pivotally connected therewith, a forwardly extended bow pivotally mounted on the first-named bow and having elongated loops through which the side members are free to move, said side mem bers being jointed intermediate their ends, means bridging the joints of the side members with means to prevent movement of the side members upon their joints, and crossed members pivotally connected with the side members upon opposite sides of their joint, one of the crossed members having an elongated loop in which the other member thereof is freely movable.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. I

WILLIAM H. BATES.

Washington, D. G. I 

